Barcelona not willing to barter with Santos

Barcelona offered €20 million for Brazilian Santos striker Neymar earlier this week. Anticipation was heightened as Barcelona faithful, players and fans alike, waited for Neymar to arrive in Camp Nou. However, Raúl Sanllehí, Barca’s director of football who was in Brazil to negotiate a deal, has left without Neymar signing on the dotted line.

The Blaugrana are unwilling to bend to Santos FC’s demands, as the Brazilian club has rejected the €20 million Barca offer for a 55 percent stake in Neymar. The remaining 45 percent belongs to DIS, a super marketing agency, and TEISA, an investment fund.

It’s become clear Santos is trying to get as much as they can out of Neymar, and the feel the €20 million offer is just too low. But they must be careful. Barcelona has a backup plan in which they will pay Neymar €10 million this year to play with Santos, but be unable to negotiate with any other team and become a free agent in 2014, and sign with Barca. If this were to happen Santos would walk away with nothing.